Markdown vs HTML: Which Should You Write In?

Markdown and HTML aren't really rivals: they're two layers of the same pipeline. HTML is the actual language browsers render: a system of tags like <h1>, <p> and <a> that describe every element on a page with total precision. Markdown is a lightweight shorthand that turns plain, readable text (a # for a heading, ** for bold, a dash for a list item) into that HTML behind the scenes. In almost every modern workflow, you write Markdown and a converter produces the HTML.

The reason Markdown took over writing is speed and readability. A Markdown document reads cleanly as plain text even before it's rendered, so notes, READMEs, blog posts and documentation stay easy to write and diff. HTML, by contrast, is verbose, the same paragraph is wrapped in tags that clutter the source, but that verbosity buys you exact control over structure, attributes, styling hooks and anything Markdown simply can't express.

Usefully, you rarely have to choose absolutely: most Markdown flavors let you drop raw HTML in when you need it. Below is a side-by-side breakdown, a clear rule for choosing, and an honest verdict, plus tools to preview Markdown and convert it to HTML.